Nitish Kumar to be conferred social justice award

New Delhi, Jan 29: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been chosen by US-based Periyar International for the 'K Veeramani Social Justice Award', instituted by non-resident followers of Dalit icon Periyar EV Ramasami.

Welcoming the decision, JD-U general secretary KC Tyagi said that this is a "great honour" to their party leader noting that the previous awardees include big names for the cause of social justice including late Prime Minister VP Singh, M Karunanidhi, Sitaram Kesri and Mayawati.

Congress MP V Hanumantha Rao and a former minister in Maharashtra government Chhagan Bhujbal were also given this award. The award carries a plaque and cash of Rs 1 lakh.

"The weaker and marginalised sections of the society will also feel honoured with this decision," Tyagi said.

The organisation plans to confer the award on Kumar in Patna, said Lakshman Tamil Chairman of Award Committee in a communication to Tyagi.

The award is in the name of K Veeramani, the President of Dravidar Kazhagam.

In a letter to the Bihar Chief Minister, the organisation said that the award is given every year to an individual or institution for having contributed immensely to the cause of social justice.

Periyar International was founded on November 13, 1994 in Chicago, llinois.